"Is everything ready?" (William)
"Everything's ready, Will." (Mako)
"Very well" (William)
"It's time to get changed, Will. Weems will be giving his opening speech in a few minutes" (Enid)
"Why do we have to wear costumes?" (William)
"Come on, it's part of the fun." Enid took William by the hand and led him to a tent. Xavier and the rest had already changed a while ago, only William refused to do so.
"All right" (William)
(Maybe I can use good luck as an excuse to kiss Enid) (William)
William and company were at the docks of the Jericho River near Nevermore Academy.
Ajax, Xavier, Enid, and William on one side, Divina and Bianca accompanied by other mermaids were walking through the crowd of students, seemingly looking for something or someone. The rest of the students were there to witness the Poe Cup, equipped with binoculars and video cameras to follow the entire journey of the four teams.
Four large tents were set up on the riverbank. They were large and colourful, each team having selected a colour. Their costumes and canoes had to reflect the theme of a poem by Allan Edgar Poe.
Dozens of students in their purple uniforms eagerly awaited the event, gathering in groups and whispering among themselves. Some even placed bets on the winner, waving coloured flags to cheer on their dormitories. Nevermore had four dormitories: Caliban Hall, Puck Hall, Ophelia Hall and the least important, Trisbie Hall.
Each had its own symbol: Caliban Hall had a smiling moon and palm trees, Puck Hall had a faun playing two purple trumpets, Trisbie Hall had a lion with a crown of grass, and finally Ophelia Hall had an Ophelia flower, each inspired by a poem by William Shakespeare.
Just as Headmistress Weems was about to begin her opening speech, William emerged from the tent, wearing a suit and a full-length cape covered in shiny black feathers.
Caliban Hall had chosen Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" for the team. It recounted the story of a tormented man who had lost the love of his life and was visited by a raven capable of speaking and whispering "Nevermore" in response to all the poor man's pleas and ravings.
"Where is your raven mask?" (Xavier)
"It got lost somewhere" (William)
The entire Hiba team was dressed alike in black canoes decorated with a raven figure at the bow, white ravens taking flight decorating the sides, and the letters "El Cuervo" presenting their chosen themes for the poem.
William's blond hair peeked out from under the hood of his cloak. He took his place right in the middle, with Xavier in front and Ajax behind William.
"Go Caliban Hall!!!"
"You can do it, William!!!"
"Defeat those smug Sirens!!"
"Go Trisbie Hall, you have to win this year!!!"
"You can do it, Bianca, keep the Cup for Puck Hall this year too!!!"
"Go Will, smash them to pieces."
Enid jumped up and down on the shore, waving her black flag from side to side. Her face was flushed with excitement, and in her free left hand she held William's raven mask. She also insisted that he put it on, but he didn't manage to.
Bianca's team had chosen the poem Annabel Lee, in which angels descended from heaven to take away a knight's beloved, or so he believed, for the rest simply mourned her sad passing on a quiet, windy night.
Bianca and Divina wore short-sleeved white tunics that barely covered their thighs; they had to look good to hold the cup in front of everyone. Small golden wings decorated their backs, and their boat painted the landscape of a city by the sea, just like in Poe's poem.
"Where the hell is he?" (Bianca)
"He should be here by now." (Divina)
"Do you think something could have happened to him?"
"Xavier wouldn't dare do anything to him to win." (Divina)
"But William would do it. Without him, our chances of winning are slim. We'll have to rely on ourselves" (Bianca).
Divina still hadn't lost hope. She searched the crowd, looking for her Az under her sleeve.
"Welcome to the Academy's Edgar Allan Poe Cup."
"This is one of Nevermore's annual traditions that we have been most proud of for 125 years."
Headmistress Weems stepped onto the small stage on the pier, held her microphone, and proceeded with the opening speech. She looked as tall and elegant as ever with her platinum blonde hair carefully styled.
"Each team must row to Raven Island, remove a flag from the Cracstone crypt, and row back without sinking or being sunk. The first team to cross the finish line with their flag wins the cup and the right to brag for a year, as well as special privileges."
"Let the Poe Cup begin!"
"Bam!!!"
The starting signal was a shot fired into the air from Headmistress Weems' revolver.
After hearing the shot, the four teams advanced upstream against the current. At first, all the teams were neck and neck, but a few metres ahead, the difference in physical strength between the female and male teams became apparent.
"I'm going to use that" (Bianca)
"Are you sure Xavier doesn't like you using your powers for this kind of thing?" (Divina)
"It's my first year leading the Mermaid pack, I can't be the one to lose the Cup" (Bianca)
"Do we aim here?"
"At the closest ones, at Ophelia Hall" (Bianca)
Annabel Lee's ship changed course and came dangerously close to Ophelia Hall's ship. Enid's dormitory chose the poem "Leonor," which tells of a man's longing to be reunited with his lost love in the afterlife. Like most of E.A. Poe's poems, it was about a love lost before its time.
"All of you jump into the water and swim to shore."
Bianca used her siren voice when they were within reach, and the four boat passengers stood up and jumped one by one into the water.
"Ophelia Hall is out of the competition."
Headmistress Weems declared Ophelia Hall's exit from the competition with a hint of disappointment in her voice. Another year without Ophelia Hall winning the Poe Cup.
"Let's go to the next boat." (Bianca)
"Impossible, they're too far away from us." (Divina)
"Shit, where the hell did Kent go?" (Bianca)
30 minutes earlier Music Hall.
"Bianca, what do you need me to do? I thought we already had a plan..."
Before Kent could shout, a sack was thrown over his head, he was thrown to the ground and tied up all over, looking like a caterpillar made of string at the end.
"Well, this should hold out until the end of the competition."
"How did you get him to come alone?" (William)
"I sent him a note. Bianca usually does that during class." (Ajax)
Kent tried to speak and shake off the ropes, but it was useless. All the students had gone to the river, and the ropes were tied with complicated knots.
"How did you know Kent would try to capsize the boats in the competition?" (Ajax)
"I just guessed. I wasn't sure either." (William)
"Now let's catch up with Xavier and the rest." (William)
"And Anthony." (Ajax)
"Who's Anthony?" (William)
"Our teammate, the boy with black hair." (Ajax)
"Oh, so that's what it's called" (William)
Jericho River Competition Area
"All right, let's teach that cocky blond-haired guy a lesson."
"Aim carefully, we only have five arrows."
Trisbie Hall's boat approached William's. Trisbie Hall had chosen the poem "Eldorado," and they were dressed as knights in shining armour.
The student in the middle took a crossbow from under the seat, loaded a blunt bolt, and aimed directly at William's face.
"Here you go, pretty boy."
The powerful arrow flew towards William, but just before it hit, it was smashed by an oar. Compared to the tail of the Silver Drake, this arrow was as slow as a turtle to William.
"Impossible."
"Crack" "Crack" "Crack" "Crack" "Crack"
Five shots, five cracks, all were stopped.
"Wow, impressive!"
"Fantastic!"
"Did you see that?!"
Words of amazement and exclamation came from the shore. All the students saw William knock down the arrows with a twist of his oar. Even Headmistress Weems raised an eyebrow in surprise.
(It looks like the Cup will go to Caliban Hall this year. He's as impressive as his parents...) (Weems)
"Careful with that oar."
Antony craned his neck fearfully, watching William's oar pass so close to his head.
"Sorry, mate, that should be the last one." (William)
William took his seat again. They would be the first to reach the dock at Raven Island, followed closely by the Eldorado team and finally Annabel Lee.
"Okay, Xavier, come with me. Ajax, turn anyone who approaches the boat to stone, and Antony... rest.
William and Xavier disappeared into the forest. Their next stop was Joseph Crackstone's Crypt. Both William and Xavier left their cloaks in the canoe, as it would be inconvenient to run through the forest wearing them.
William was determined to win, a bright screen flashing before him this morning.
[Win the Poe Cup Reward: Greater Rune]
(This is the first time he has announced they reward in advance). (William)